Hongdae BBQ walk-up with hanwoo sirloin lunch: Gogikkun Gim Chunbae
In short
Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is a Korean BBQ restaurant spread over the 3rd and 4th floors of a building near Hongdae Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekend lunch visit booked in advance, the hanwoo-handon (Korean beef and pork) set for two came with banban naengmyeon (half-and-half cold noodles) and kkakdukbap (rice with diced radish kimchi), and staff grilled everything over charcoal so the hanwoo sirloin and handon pork belly could be tasted side by side. There is no elevator, so the climb up to the 3rd floor is worth knowing about before you go.
Good to know
- Location
- 3rd floor, 36 Hongik-ro 3-gil (restaurant runs across the 3rd and 4th floors)
- Elevator
- None — stairs only up to the 3rd floor
- What we ordered
- Hanwoo-handon set for two, kkakdukbap, banban naengmyeon
- Service
- Staff grill the meat and cut it with scissors at the table
- Reservations
- Reservations and private bookings accepted; recommended for weekday evenings and weekends
as written by the visitor on Sep 17, 2026
Here's my visit to Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch, a Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae. I'd been to their Jongno branch once before and the meat quality was so good that I came back for another round in Hongdae!
It's close to Hongdae so I dropped by on a weekend.
Where is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae, and how many stairs to the 3rd floor?
Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch is close to Hongdae and there's a sign out front, so it was easy to find! It's on the 3rd floor — just so you know, there's no elevator!
I noticed a number listed for reservations and private bookings too, so it seems like this place is often used for group gatherings. Since it runs across the 3rd and 4th floors, booking ahead for weekday evenings or weekends seems like a smart move.
The door is kind of curious looking, right? Cute and cozy haha.
Inside Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae: atmosphere and the reserved table
Stepping inside Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae Main Branch, wood-tone interiors wrap around the whole space, and with the soft lighting it felt comfortable yet upscale. Since we'd booked ahead, they had our table all set up already.
What we ordered: hanwoo-handon set for two, kkakdukbap and banban naengmyeon
We went all in and ordered the hanwoo (Korean beef) and handon (Korean pork) set for two, plus kkakdukbap and banban naengmyeon!
The hanwoo-handon set arrives! The mushrooms look great and the meat looks top quality haha.
Hanwoo sirloin! Definitely tender and delicious haha.
Charcoal grilling done by the staff at your table
What I loved most was that staff grilled the meat for us directly. No worrying about clumsily burning it ourselves — we just sat there chatting while they flipped it at just the right moment and cut it up with scissors. So easy.
The hanwoo especially had marbling packed so tightly that fat started sizzling the moment it hit the charcoal grill — and to lock in the juices, they seemed to grill it slowly without flipping too often.
How does the hanwoo sirloin taste?
The hanwoo had that rich savoriness typical of a fattier cut, and the more you chewed, the sweeter it got. It was good with salt or wasabi, but personally I also liked enjoying the meat's natural flavor plain, without dipping it in anything.
My friend wrapped a piece of meat in myeongi namul (wild garlic leaf) and said the sharp, pungent flavor cut through the fat nicely — a real treat too!
Banban naengmyeon and kkakdukbap on the side
Before the samgyeopsal (pork belly), the banban naengmyeon showed up — half mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and half bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles) in one bowl! You get to enjoy two flavors at once haha. The garnish on top was neatly arranged too, so it looked clean. Both halves had a clean flavor that paired really well with the grilled meat.
The kkakdukbap was fried rice packed generously with kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi), so it was really filling haha.
Handon pork belly vs hanwoo sirloin: what's the difference?
The handon had a slightly chewier texture than the hanwoo, and the fatty parts felt light rather than greasy, so I kept reaching for more.
The meat quality is really great, right? haha And honestly even easier to eat! If hanwoo feels like a splurge, this Hongdae restaurant is a great spot to come for handon samgyeopsal, ogeopsal (thick-cut pork belly), or mokssal (pork neck) instead.
Service and how far apart the tables are
The grilling timing was spot on so we could eat comfortably. Staff kept checking in on our table so we never ran out of water or side dishes, which I appreciated. The restrooms and hallways were tidy too, which gave the impression they take good care of the space, and the tables were spaced generously enough that we could talk freely without worrying about the next table over.
Who is Gogikkun Gim Chunbae Hongdae best for?
I'd recommend this Hongdae restaurant, Gogikkun Gim Chunbae, to anyone wanting a relaxed lunch with a friend after a while apart. Having staff grill for us made things easy, and getting to compare hanwoo and handon side by side made for a satisfying visit. If you've got plans near Hongdae, it's great for a casual midday meat outing, or even a dinner course with a glass of whiskey on the side.
Where it is
36 Hongik-ro 3-gil, 3rd floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 마포구 홍익로3길 36 3층
